Canopy-like decorative structure

ABSTRACT

A decorative structure is provided that is suspended within a space and includes a flexible panel maintained in a flexed configuration. The decorative structure includes a cable that supports the flexible panel and that is connected to a biasing member. The biasing member cooperates with a portion of the flexible panel to maintain the panel in a flexed configuration. A method of configuring a decorative structure with a flexed panel is also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/774,234, filed on Feb. 5, 2004,which claims the benefit of international application serial no.PCT/US02/23040, filed on Jul. 19, 2002, designating the United Statesand published in English, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.§119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/306,516,filed on Jul. 19, 2001.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to ceiling fixtures and, moreparticularly, to ceiling fixtures for suspension from a hard ceiling inan open plenum space.

Traditional suspended ceiling structures formed from suspended grids ofacoustically absorbent tiles are commonly found in commercial workspaces such as professional offices. While such structures provide apleasant and acoustically absorbent space, designers and architects whodesire to create the feel of an open loft space often object to theuniformity and lowered ceiling height created by conventional dropceilings. Thus, more and more businesses are opting for so-called openplenum ceiling designs. In the open plenum, no suspended ceiling isprovided that screens the entire hard deck or hard ceiling along withthe HVAC duct work, wiring and the like. Rather, these structuralelements are exposed. Open plenum ceilings are more commonly found inretail stores and similar commercial settings, but also can be found inoffice spaces.

In office spaces where open plenum ceilings are found, individualoffices within the office space often are created using reconfigurablepartitions that may be considerably lower than the hard ceiling. Whetherin an office space or some other in-door space, the combination of anopen plenum design with partitions that do not rise to the ceiling harddeck tends to leave the space unstructured and, consequently, lessuseful and aesthetically pleasing than it might otherwise be with somedecorative structure that helps to define and differentiate the space.

To differentiate a space and to create a more interesting visual in aloft style space or open plenum design, architects sometimes willspecify that an open loft space be provided with customized decorativestructures suspended from the ceiling to differentiate the space withinthe room. Such suspended decorative structures not only can delineatethe space but also may dampen extraneous noise and create an interestingvisual. Unfortunately, such decorative structures must be preformed intothe desired shape, thus making them difficult to ship or mass produce.Consequently, such decorative structures tend to be made only ascustomized pieces. Such customization leads to considerable expense tofabricate such a suspended decorative structure and its framing.

Therefore, there is a need for a decorative structure that can besuspended within a space and that is structured such that its elementscan be easily interchanged to provide a variety of configurations withbasic elements some of which, at least, may be mass produced.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a decorative structure including aflexible panel maintained in a flexed configuration. The decorativestructure comprises a flexible panel supported by a cable that isconnected to a biasing member. The biasing member cooperates with aportion of the flexible panel so as to maintain the panel in a flexedconfiguration. The structure is suspended within an interior and/orexterior space by direct or indirect connection with a wall, ceiling,floor or other support structure. The cable may connect the biasingmember to an opposed biasing member that also cooperates with theflexible panel. Alternatively, the biasing member may be connected to anopposed biasing member by a tensioned cable. The cable may be attacheddirectly to the biasing member or indirectly to the biasing member witha fastener. In one embodiment, the cable may pass through a portion ofthe biasing member.

In one embodiment, the decorative structure comprises a biasing memberhaving a cam that cooperates with the flexible panel. The flexible panelmay be indirectly supported by a cable that is connected to the biasingmember. The biasing member may cooperate with an edge of the flexiblepanel so as to maintain the panel in a flexed configuration.

In another embodiment, the biasing member comprises a jaw that receivesa portion of the flexible panel. The jaw may be pivotal about a pivotpoint or joint.

The decorative structure may comprise one or more flexible panels thatare supported by the same cable or a plurality of panels supported by aplurality of cables. The flexible panels may be comprised of a range ofmaterials such as, for example, metal, wood, paper, plastic and/orglass.

The present invention also encompasses a method of configuring adecorative structure. The method comprises providing a cable connectinga biasing member to an opposed biasing member; engaging the biasingmember with a first portion of a flexible panel; engaging the opposedbiasing member with a second portion of the flexible panel; and,adjusting the relative alignment of the biasing member and the opposedbiasing member. The method may also comprise the step of securing thealignment of the biasing member along the cable relative to the opposedbiasing member, such as with an anchor connected to the biasing memberand cooperating with the cable, and/or tensioning a cable connecting abiasing member to an opposed biasing member.

These and other features of the present invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed description, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings that are briefly described asfollows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative structure embodyingprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of thedecorative structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a biasing member for use in a decorativestructure embodying principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another biasing member for use in adecorative structure of embodying principles of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further biasing member for use in adecorative structure embodying principles of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another biasing member for use in adecorative structure embodying principles of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of a decorative structure embodyingprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the portion of the decorative structure shownin FIG. 7 with the addition of a flexible panel.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the portion of the decorative panel shown inFIG. 8 with the decorative structure adjusted to a desiredconfiguration.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another decorative structure embodyingprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further decorative structureembodying principles of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of yet another decorative structureembodying principles of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of still a further decorative structureembodying principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in greater detail to the figures, wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts throughout the drawings, the present inventiongenerally includes a decorative structure comprising a flexible panelsupported by a cable and maintained in a flexed configuration by abiasing member. The decorative structure provides a canopy-like visualelement to a space in which it is suspended. The decorative structuremay be easily installed and reconfigured to suit the user. The elementsof the decorative structure may be interchanged in order to providedifferent visual and aesthetic impact. The flexible panel may beprovided in a variety of shapes, materials and finishes. The flexiblepanel may be formed of wood, paper, metal, plastic, glass or any othersuitable material. The panel may be solid, mesh or include a variety ofdecorative designs or openings therein to provide the desired visualimpact.

A decorative structure 100 a is shown in FIG. 1. The decorativestructure 100 a includes a flexible panel 20 having a first edge 24 anda second edge 22. The decorative structure 100 a also includes cables 30connected to biasing members 50 a and 50 b and supporting flexible panel20. Cables 30 are connected to the ceiling, walls or some other suitablestructure from which the decorative structure 100 a may be suspended.Biasing members 50 a cooperate with a portion of flexible panel 20, suchas, for example, first edge 24. Likewise, opposed biasing members 50 bcooperate with second edge 22 of flexible panel 20. The cooperation ofbiasing members 50 a with first edge 24 of flexible panel 20 and opposedbiasing members 50 b with second edge 22 provides support for theflexible panel and maintenance of the flexible panel 20 in a flexedconfiguration. Each biasing member 50 a is connected to an opposedbiasing member 50 b by tensioned cable 34. Tensioned cable 34 provides acounter force through biasing members 50 a and opposed biasing members50 b to the flexible panel 20 when it is in a flexed configuration. Byemploying tensioned cables 34 and biasing members 50 a and opposedbiasing members 50 b, an otherwise flat but flexible panel 20 may bebowed to a desired configuration when decorative structure 100 a isinstalled. Therefore, production, shipping and handling of the elementsof the decorative structure may prove easier than with a customizedstructure having a preformed curved configuration.

As shown in FIG. 2, alternative configurations for flexible panel 20 canbe had. In this embodiment of the present invention, tensioned cables 34are positioned below flexed panel 20. As in decorative structure 100 a,cables 30 are connected to biasing members 50 a and opposed biasingmembers 50 b, thereby at least indirectly supporting flexible panel 20,which cooperates with both biasing member 50 a and opposed biasingmembers 50 b. Thus, the present invention encompasses flexible panelsthat can be configured concave and/or convex.

FIG. 3 shows a biasing member 50 that embodies principles of the presentinvention. Biasing member 50 includes a body 52 that has a groove 54formed therein. Groove 54 includes a major biasing surface 58. When anedge of a flexible panel is received by groove 54 major biasing surface58 cooperates with a face of the flexible panel while the end surface 53of groove 54 cooperates with an edge of the flexible panel so that thepanel is biased in a predetermined direction. The flexible panelreceived by groove 54 may include a notch (not shown) in an edge thereofthat may receive cable 30, when a portion of the cable extends throughthe groove 54 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Biasing member 50 is connectedto cable 30, which supports both the biasing member and any panel thatmay be cooperating with the biasing member. As shown in FIG. 3, supportcable 30 may extend through the body 52 of biasing member 50, whichincludes apertures 56 that receive the cable 30. Apertures 56 may beformed in the body 52 so that cable 30 extends through a portion ofgroove 54, as shown in FIG. 3, or, alternatively, they may be formedsuch that cable 30 does not extend through groove 54.

The present invention encompasses decorative structures that includeseparate support and tensioned cables, as well as decorative structuresthat include cables that perform the function of both support andtensioning. As shown in FIG. 3, cable 30 is connected to biasing member50 in such a manner as to both support the biasing member and tension aflexed panel that is received in groove 54. Biasing member 50 may beadjustably positioned along the length of cable 30 by disengaging anchor60 through which cable 30 extends and to which biasing member 50 isconnected. In order to reposition biasing member 50, anchor 60 isadjusted so as to at least partially disengage from cable 30 so as toallow movement of both anchor 60 and biasing member 50 along the cable.Once biasing member 50 is placed in the desired position, anchor 60 maybe adjusted to reengage cable 30 so as to hold biasing member 50 inplace on cable 30. Biasing member 50 may be made of any appropriatedurable material such as metal or a polymeric resin. Cable 30 and/ortensioned cable 34 may also be made of any appropriate material, such asmetal, synthetic or natural polymers.

As shown in FIG. 4, a biasing member 150 may be provided with adecorative structure of the present invention so as to form an anglewithin cable 30. Biasing member 150 includes a body 152 that has anangled aperture 156 formed therein. Cable 30 is inserted throughaperture 156 so that cable 30 is angled. Depending upon the desiredconfiguration of the decorative structure of the present invention,angled channel 156 may be formed at any appropriate angle. Furthermore,the present invention encompasses other interconnections of the biasingmember and cable so as to provide an angle along the cable.

FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of a biasing member of the presentinvention. Biasing member 250 includes a body 252 generally formed as acam. Cable 30 extends through a channel formed in body 252 and anchor60. Body 252 includes a major cam or biasing surface 258 that cooperateswith a portion of a flexible panel in order to bias the panel andmaintain the panel in a flexed configuration.

The present invention also encompasses a decorative structure thatincludes a biasing member having a jaw. FIG. 6 shows a biasing member350 that includes a jaw 355 extending from a body 352 thereof. Jaw 355is connected by a neck 351 to a pivot joint 353 that allows for pivotingof the jaw 355. As with the other biasing members described above, jaw355 includes a major jaw biasing surface 358 that cooperates with aportion of a flexible panel to both bias the panel and maintain it in aflexed configuration. Biasing member 350 is connected to an anchor 60 sothat biasing member 350 may be adjustably positioned along the length ofcable 30.

In each of the embodiments of the biasing member of the presentinvention described above, a cable may extend through a portion of thebody of the biasing member as shown in FIGS. 3-6 or, alternatively, oneor more cables may be connected to the biasing member by other means.For example, an eyelet (not shown) may be fastened to or formed in thebiasing member. The cable may be connected to the eyelet. These andother fasteners connecting the biasing member to the cable arecontemplated by the present invention.

The present invention also encompasses a method for configuring adecorative structure. As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the method comprises thesteps of providing a biasing member 50 a connected to an opposed biasingmember 50 b by a cable 30, as shown in FIG. 7. The method furthercomprises engaging a portion of a flexible panel 20 with the biasingmember 50 a and engaging another portion of the flexible panel with theopposed biasing member 50 b. For example, a first edge 22 a of aflexible panel 20 may be inserted into groove 54 a of biasing member 50a and a second edge 22 b of flexible panel 20 may be inserted into agroove 54 b of opposed biasing member 50 b. If the biasing member and/orthe opposed biasing member includes a jaw or a cam, then an edge orother portion of the flexible panel of the decorative structure may beinserted in the jaw or aligned adjacent the cam in order to accomplishthese step. The alignment of the biasing member relative to the opposedbiasing member then may be adjusted to bend the flexible panel into thedesired flexed configuration. For instance, as indicated in FIG. 9,biasing member 50 a and/or biasing member 50 b may be moved along cable30 thereby altering the extent of flexure of flexible panel 20.

When the desired configuration is achieved, the method may then includesecuring the biasing member and the opposed biasing member relative tothe cable. For example, the anchors 60 a and 60 b connected to biasingmembers 50 a and 50 b respectively may be disengaged from cable 30 asthe biasing members are repositioned and then reengaged with the cablewhen the desired alignment is achieved. The method may also includetensioning the cable in order to provide proper alignment of the biasingmember relative to the opposed biasing member.

As shown in FIGS. 10-13, the decorative structures of the presentinvention may include a variety of configurations and materials. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 11, two cables 30 may be aligned in paralleland a plurality of flexible panels 20 and biasing members 50 may bearranged thereon. In such a configuration, cables 30 serve both tosupport flexible panels 20 and provide the necessary tensioned counterforce through the biasing members to maintain the flexible panels 20 intheir respective flexed configurations. It is contemplated that aplurality of decorative structures may be provided in a given spaceand/or a decorative structure may include a plurality of configuredflexible panels.

The decorative structure of the present invention also may providehinged access to the space above the structure without completelydisassembling the structure. The panel may be hingedly or pivotallyrotated by loosening the anchors connected to one or more of the biasingmembers that engage a given panel. For example, in the case ofdecorative structure shown in FIG. 13, the anchors connected to biasingmembers 50 b may be loosened so that the biasing members may be movedalong the cables 30. Movement of the biasing members 50 b will allow thepanel 20 a to be disengaged therefrom. The panel may then be rotatedupward about an axis extending through biasing members 50 a so that thespace above the decorative structure may be accessed without removingportions of the structure.

As is shown in the figures, the ends of the flexible panel may bepositioned at different heights and orientations relative to each otherin order to provide a wide variety of visual and acoustical results.While the biasing members shown in the figures are completely supportedby one or more cables, the present invention also encompasses decorativestructures wherein one or more biasing members are supported by astructure other than a cable. For example, a biasing member may besupported by a rod, beam, pipe, wall, ledge or other suitable structure,while still functioning as intended according to the present invention.

Furthermore, the decorative structures of the present invention may beused in conjunction with a light source in order to illuminate the spacein which the structure is suspended. The light may be integrally formedwith the decorative structure, such as being supported by one or more ofthe structures cables, or be positioned adjacent the structure in orderfor the flexible panel to act as a reflector, diffuser or shade for alight source. These and many other modifications to the embodimentsillustrated herein may well be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention.

1. A suspended decorative structure comprising: a flexible panel havingopposed edges; first and second biasing members, each of the biasingmembers having a biasing surface which cooperates with the opposed edgesof the panel; a cable attached to the first biasing member at a firstend of the cable and the second biasing member at a second end of thecable, wherein the cable cooperates with the first and second biasingmembers, causing the first and second biasing members to exert forces onthe opposed edges of the flexible panel, causing the flexible panel tobe bowed away from the cable in either a concave or convexconfiguration, the flexible panel causing the cable to be tensioned; thefirst and second biasing members being suspended from a wall or anoverhead ceiling.
 2. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1,wherein each of the first and second biasing members include a bodyhaving a groove for receiving one of the opposed edges of the flexiblepanel.
 3. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1, wherein each ofthe first and second biasing members comprises a cam cooperating withthe flexible panel.
 4. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1,wherein each of the first and second biasing members comprises a jawcooperating with the flexible panel.
 5. The suspended decorativestructure of claim 4, wherein the jaw is pivotable about a pivot point.6. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1, wherein the flexiblepanel is formed of a material selected from metal, wood, fabric andplastic.
 7. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1, wherein thecable is positioned above the flexible panel.
 8. The suspendeddecorative structure of claim 1, wherein the cable is positioned belowthe flexible panel.
 9. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1,wherein second cables are attached to the first and second biasingmembers and to a wall or an overhead ceiling.
 10. A suspended decorativestructure comprising: a panel having a first edge and a second edge;first and second biasing members, the first biasing member cooperatingwith a portion of the panel proximate the first edge, the second biasingmember cooperating with a portion of the panel proximate the secondedge; at least one tensioning cable connected to the first and secondbiasing members; the cooperation of the first biasing member with theportion of the panel proximate the first edge and the second biasingmember with the portion of the panel proximate the second edge providessupport for the panel to position the panel in a flexed configuration;the tensioning cable provides a counter force through the first andsecond biasing members to the panel when the panel is in the flexedconfiguration, thereby maintaining the panel in the flexed configurationand allowing the panel to be bowed to a desired shape.
 11. The suspendeddecorative structure of claim 10, wherein supporting cables areconnected to the first and second biasing members, the supporting cablesbeing connected to a ceiling, wall or some other suitable structure fromwhich the suspended decorative structure may be suspended.
 12. Thesuspended decorative structure of claim 10, wherein the tensioning cableis positioned above the panel.
 13. The suspended decorative structure ofclaim 10, wherein the tensioning cable is positioned below the panel.14. The suspended decorative structure of claim 10, wherein firstbiasing member cooperates with the first edge of the panel.
 15. Thesuspended decorative structure of claim 14, wherein the second biasingmember cooperates with the second edge of the panel.
 16. The suspendeddecorative structure of claim 15, wherein a first biasing surface of thefirst biasing member cooperates with the first edge of the panel. 17.The suspended decorative structure of claim 16, wherein a second biasingsurface of the second biasing member cooperates with the second edge ofthe panel.
 18. The suspended decorative structure of claim 10, whereinthe tensioning cable is also connected to a ceiling, wall or some othersuitable structure from which the suspended decorative structure may besuspended.
 19. The suspended decorative structure of claim 18, whereinan anchor is provided which may be adjustably positioned along thelength of the tensioning cable, the anchor being attached to the firstbiasing member to allow the first biasing member to also be adjustablypositioned along the length of the tensioning cable.